James Edward Coleman was born in Haworth, Oklahoma, on November 9^th, 1929, and passed into new life on April 12^th, 2026.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Octavia Coleman, his wife, Phyllis Coleman, and his brother, Homer Coleman.  He is survived by his brothers, Wilburn, Monroe, and Jerrel Coleman, and sisters Esta Callaham, Lanell Absher, and Veleta Ehrlich.  Also by his daughter Karen Phillips, daughter Becky Hall and husband Thomas, his grandchildren Sally Crandlemire and husband Eric, Jesse Phillips, Aaron Phillips and wife Amanda, Christina Yates and husband Joshua, Sarah Menenberg and husband David, Julia Anderson and husband Norman, and great grandchildren Harrison, Lenora, Oliver, and Audrey Phillips, Evelyn and Chloe Crandlemire, Elias and Jacob Menenberg, and Stella and Cora Yates.

He spent his early childhood years in Pleasant Hill, Oklahoma, and Smiley, Texas, and later relocated back to Oklahoma, eventually settling in Broken Bow.  As the oldest child, his mother relied upon him to help raise his younger siblings.  From a young age, he was often left to babysit the little ones while his mama was in the fields picking cotton.  The depression years were difficult times with food being scarce, so James helped provide for the family by hunting in the woods, even bringing home squirrels for his mama to fry up.  They grew their own food and canned it to survive throughout the winter.  With five rambunctious boys born all in a row while living in small quarters, his mother would say the noise was like a freight train roaring in her head. The family’s many adventures and escapades in those days make you wonder how they all managed to survive.

James spent his grade school years in Smiley, Texas, and Pleasant Hill, Oklahoma.  He got one pair of shoes per year, and he wasn’t allowed to wear them until there was frost on the ground.  He always said he could run faster barefoot anyway and could outrun all the other kids in school.  He and his brothers enjoyed sneaking over to the “Meadow Pond” to take a swim, having to beat the surface of the water first to chase away any snakes.  They would be sure not to return home until their hair was dry, as to not get in trouble with their mama.  He attended high school in Haworth, Oklahoma, graduating as valedictorian.  He sold eggs at a little grocery store nearby to earn money for his school lunches.

After high school, James worked a few odd jobs and then attended college in Durant, Texas, earning his bachelor’s degree in English.  Since he was soon to be drafted, he enlisted with the Air Force as he didn’t want to be in the army.  He did basic training in Kinston, North Carolina, and flew a T-6 and

T-28.  Flying became his lifelong passion that he pursued outside of the Air Force.

James relocated to Richland, Washington, to get a job on the Hanford site as.  He worked for General Electric as a radiation monitor for several years.  Thanks to a little matchmaking by two family aunts, he met the love of his life, Phyllis Williamson.  She fell for his gorgeous, blue “Paul Newman” eyes and wavy hair he had at that time.  James, in turn, believed Phyllis to be the most beautiful woman he had ever met. They were married at Richland Assembly of God church, on May 17^th, 1956 and shared 52 wonderful years together before Phyllis passed in 2008. They had their daughter, Karen, on April 28^th, 1957, and then Becky, on April 8^th, 1959.  As a young family, they began taking annual trips to Depoe Bay, Oregon, where they made many happy memories through the years beach combing and watching sunsets.  They loved to take bike rides together and dream about building a new home, which they did eventually, and had a tradition of watching “The Lawrence Welk Show” on Saturday nights while eating popcorn.

After getting laid off, James worked a job temporarily in Idaho Falls, Idaho, before getting employment with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) back in Richland.  He worked many years assisting scientific research as an electron microscopist and was known for his precise work.  He was dedicated to his job and it gave him much fulfillment, working until he was 84 years old.

James and his brother, Wilburn, spent many happy hours in the air flying private planes locally and

across the country.  They took numerous trips to visit family in Oklahoma, and several trips to the Reno air races, even flying to Alaska.  There’s nothing that gave James more enjoyment than his flying adventures with his brother.

After being retired, he went on camping trips with his daughter, Karen, and her family, and also took trips to visit many national parks with his daughter Becky, and her family.  He greatly enjoyed returning to Depoe Bay with his family to watch the ocean and relive good memories.  In his free time, James found it fascinating to read books of true life adventures, war time pilots, and anything historical.

James treasured reminiscing about the old days with his daughters, hearing about the accomplishments of his grandchildren as they grew into adulthood, and lived to see the addition to the family of his ten great grandchildren.

Karen and Becky have memories of being told by James as little girls that they were “prettier than a speckled pup or cuter than a dog’s hind leg,” which they always took as a compliment.  Every time they parted in the later years, he would say, “You’re a good girl”, to which they would reply, “You’re a good daddy”.  He was a gentle, kind soul who always had a smile on his face.  He was not only loved greatly by his family, but by all who were blessed to know him.